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16 The Authority | October 2024 Transforming Government Services with AI, Automation By Mitch Thompson, Digital Growth Director, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP T here is significant interest and varying opinions on automation and artificial intelligence (AI). While some believe AI will take us to the next industrial revolution, others believe it’s overhyped and will not produce change. Adding to the confusion are the various interpretations around AI, leaving additional doubt about the safety and effectiveness of this technology advancement. While there are pros and cons, it’s prudent for government officials to know about AI and automation and its possible uses. Learn how the technology may benefit government entities and review real-world examples. What is artificial intelligence and automation? Artificial Intelligence Setting a foundation of understanding is important when discussing various AI technologies. AI is a broad area of computer science focused on creating machines capable of performing tasks requiring human intelligence. It encompasses a wide range of techniques and methodologies enabling machines to perceive, understand, act, and learn from data and their environment. Within AI are subsets focusing on specific data or outcomes: • Machine learning focuses largely on algorithms that learn from data. • Deep learning — incorporated within machine learning — delves into the neural network-based algorithms for complex data tasks. This is commonly referred to as a large language model (LLM). • An LLM is a very focused AI tool used to specifically address a particular business use case (see an example below). All AI has a foundational reliance on statistics, a key component in data analysis and algorithm training. Automation Automation uses technology — such as AI and business intelligence tools — to reduce human intervention. Automation does not replace human value, but rather increases human efficiency and enables people to perform higher-value tasks while still maintaining foundational knowledge of the automated task. There are advantages to using AI and automation. Consider the following benefits and impact on automated reporting: Manual Reporting Automated Reporting 80% of reporting is ad hoc, 20% standardized 80% standardized, 20% ad hoc Time consuming Time Saving Error prone More accurate Inconsistent Real time Dependent on individuals Scalable